As the colder months draw in and wood burning stove owners start thinking about stocking up on logs, Woodsure – the wood fuel quality assurance scheme – has launched a Ready to Burn initiative to help homeowners look after their stoves and improve air quality.   

Air quality and wood fuel has become a hot topic and stove owners are being asked to think about the impact of burning poor quality logs has on the environment. A stove is only is a good as the wood it burns and so the Ready to Burn stamp of approval will reassure those who purchase logs with its logo that they are dry enough and ready to burn. 

Burning wet wood is inefficient as it demands a lot of heat to boil off the water before the appliance can give out the proper level of heat to the room, hot water or heating systems. In turn, this creates a lot of smoke which damages the chimney and blackens the appliance and contributes to air pollution. Dry wood that has been properly sourced and seasoned or kiln dried means it produces fewer particulates, more heat efficiency and less maintenance – chimneys are less likely to block and will remain easier to sweep. 

While stove manufacturers continue to develop new and enhanced products to improve efficiency and clean burning, it is the critical issue of wood fuel that plays the biggest role in the air quality solution across existing and new appliances says Bruce Allen Chairman, of Woodsure. 

“Today, modern heating appliances are highly engineered, efficient pieces of technology that do a fantastic job – but they can only do so much without quality wood fuel,” says Bruce. 

“Think about it, if you bought a super clean energy-efficient car, would you choose to fill it with a fuel that you were unsure of? It’s true that modern heating appliances are not as complex as car engines, but the same principles apply. Poor quality wood fuel leads to smoke and a poor fuel economy.” 

The government-backed Ready to Burn scheme will set a benchmark for logs and other wood fuels in the UK to help with identifying wood that has been carefully chosen and ready to burn. 

The Minister for the environment Thérèse Coffey said: “Many of us enjoy a fire at home, but what you burn and how you burn it has a real impact on air quality for our family and friends around us. 

“The Ready to Burn logo will allow people to easily identify clean, quality wood fuel, allowing them to make informed choices that will not only benefit their appliances, but also wider air quality.”

For more information on Ready to Burn please visit www.woodsure.co.uk.